Sighting of short-barreled weapons.



W. E. STEERS.

SIGHTING 0]? SHORT BARRBLED WEAPONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24. 1911.

1,021,905. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. E. STEBRS.

SIGHTING 0]? SHORT BARRELED WEAPONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARD STEERS, 0F WHITEHILL, CATERHAM, ENGLAND.

SIGHTING 0F SHORT-BARRELED WEAPONS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD Srnnns, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Hilltop, IVhitehill, Cat-erham, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Sighting of Short-Barreled lVeapons, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the sighting of weapons having a barrel which is short in relation to the range and although not restricted to such an application is specially suitable for pistols of the automatic type having long-range shooting capabilities. Diflficulty arises in connection with such weapons owing to the fact that their short ness limits the distance between the sights and thus the accuracy of long-range shooting is interfered with.

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome this defect.

The present invention consists in the improved combinations of elements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: Figure 1 shows a view of an automatic pistol with its sights in the closed position, and Fig. 2 a similar view with the sights extended; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the sight-carrying extensions removed; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the sights closed; Fig. 6 shows a cross section on the line A--B of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows a form of detent for holding the sight extension in its closed or extended positions, while Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the end plates. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a modified form of sight extension; Fig. 11 shows the lugs on which the extensions are pivoted, and Fig. 12 a view of the blade spring, while Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the sights in their closed position, and Fig. 14 a cross section on the line CD of Fig. 13.

The drawings are of a diagrammatic or conventional nature and show only such parts of the complete weapon as are necessary for the understanding of the present invention.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one form shown in Figs. 1 to 7 as applied to a Colt automatic pistol, sightcarrying extensions, a and b, are provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 645,824.

respectively for the fore-sight, 0, and the back-sight, cl, these extensions for the sake of stiffness being of channel cross-section with one flange shorter than the other. (See Figs. 3 and 4). The barrel is provided at the top with a fitting, 6, having two inverted T slots, f, running from end to end as shown in Fig. 6, this figure also showing the manner in which the sight extensions fit into one another and also into the T slots. Each sight extension is formed with a short flange, h, opposite the short flange of the channel and having its ends beveled away as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:; the flanges, h, are disposed on each sight extension at the end remote from the sight, their function being to act as stops in a manner to be hereinafter explained. To the muzzle end of the fitting, e, is secured a plate, 2', (see Fig. 5) shaped to allow the web and short flange of the channel of the fore-sight extension to pass, while acting as a stop against which one end of the back-sight butts when in the closed position. As seen in Fig. 8, the plate, 2', is beveled away at k, to correspond with one of the bevels of the flange h. A similar plate is also arranged at the breech end, this plate being formed to allow the passage through it of the back-sight extension while acting as a stop for the fore-sight extension in its closed position.

In order to hold the sight extensions in their open or closed positions, suitable detents are provided. According to the form shown (see Fig. 7 this detent consists of a pin having a square body, wt, rounded at one end and provided with a wedge-point, a, at the other end, the wedge-point being beveled to correspond with the beveled ends of the flanges, h. Two of these detents are provided for each sight-extension, one at each end as shown in Fig. 5. Each detentpasses through a square hole in the fitting, e, and is pressed inward by a blade spring, 0. The arrangement as a whole is such that the spring-pressed detents, while definitely holding the sight-extensions in their extreme positions, readily yield when a longitudinal movement is given to the extensions by hand.

The fore-sight, 0, may be of any usual form working in conjunction with a peepsight, (Z, on the back extension. Taking the fore-sight extension, 4;, by Way of example, it will be seen that the rear detent, m, holds this extension in its closed position butting in Mar;

against the rear plate, 2', by co-acting with the front bevel of the short flange, it, while when in its extended position, this front bevel butts against the inclined portion, Zr, of the front plate, 2', and is held in such position by the co-action of the front detent with the rear bevel of the short flange. By the use of the co-acting beveled surfaces a definite position of the sights in their extended positions is insured.

According to another modification, the extensions may be secured in place by hinges arranged either vertically or horizontally, suitable looks or catches being provided to retain the extensions in their correct position when in use. Thus, according to one form (see Figs. 9 to 13) lugs, u, are arranged in pairs 011 a plate, 4;, above the barrel. To the center pair of such lugs is pivoted by means of the projections, to, a spring plate, 00, provided wit-h apertures, e, to pass over the end pairs of lugs, u. The sight-extensions are shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in their open positions. The back-sigh't extension, 2, in such position is of U-shaped cross-seetion closed at one end to carry the peep-sight, 3, and having at its other end two cars, t, with rounded ends which are disposed outside and are pivoted to one of the end pairs of lugs, u, a shoulder 5, is also provided to butt against one end of the plate spring, as, (when the extension is open) after the manner of the usual penknife spring. The fore-sight extension, 6, is pivoted within the other end pair of lugs, u, and is likewise provided with a shoulder, 5. Notches, 7, are cut in both extensions to clear the projections, 10, on the plate spring. Other sights may be provided as shown for use when the sights are in their closed position.

The action of the above modification will be readily understood from the detailed description and drawings, the fore-sight extension, (3, being inclosed within the backsight extension, 2, in their folded positions as seen in Fig. 13, while both extensions are locked in either the open or closed position by the plate spring, :12.

It will be seen that in accordance with the present invention, the distance between the sights is materially increased in comparison with the length of the weapon and accuracy of speed of shooting at the longer ranges is thereby facilitated not only in weapons of the pistol or revolver type but also in any other weapon, having a long range and a comparatively short barrel.

Although I have described certain modifications of my invention above, it will nevertheless be obvious that the underlying principle involved can be embodied in a variety of other structural forms.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In combination a weapon having a barrel together with adjustable sight-carry ing members extensible respectively rearward from the breech and forward from the muzzle, said members in their operative position extending the distance between the sights in their inoperative position beyond the length of the weapon.

2. In combination, a weapon having a barrel together with sight-carrying members extensible respectively rearward from the breech and forward from the muzzle, said members in their operative position extending the distance between the sights in their inoperative position beyond the length of the weapon and movable in relation thereto to be within the length of the weapon when closed.

3. In combination, a weapon having a barrel together with sight-carrying 1nembers extensible respectively rearward from the breech and forward from the muzzle beyond the length of the weapon one of said members partly covering the other in their non-extended ppsition.

41.111 combination, a weapon having a barrel, together with sight-carrying extensions movable longitudinally in relation to said barrel together with a stop member defining the position of one of said extensions in its extended position and of the other extension in its non-extended position and a second stop member defining the position of said first-mentioned extension in its nonextended position and of said other extension in its extended position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM EDTVARD STEER-S.

Witnesses;

HENRY H. GRUNING, BERTRAM H. Marrnnws.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, I). G. 

